Husted Proposes Constitutional Amendment to Balance Federal Budget
U.S. Senator Jon Husted, concluding his first year in office, has introduced a constitutional amendment aimed at balancing the federal budget. This initiative, co-sponsored by Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis and Texas Representative Nathaniel Moran, proposes to align federal spending with revenue within a decade of its ratification.
Husted stated in a press release, “I’m introducing this amendment to restore fiscal responsibility in Washington, calm inflation, and require Congress to rein in spending in a principled way.” He emphasized in a subsequent radio interview that this approach is preferable to “taxing the rich” and is the “only way” to reduce the national debt.
An analysis from 2018 by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities raises concerns about the potential risks of such an amendment, particularly regarding funding for Social Security, Medicare, and other safety net programs. These programs heavily rely on payroll taxes, with surplus funds invested in Treasury bonds to cover any shortfalls in tax revenue.
The amendment would prevent the federal government from spending more than its annual revenue, potentially barring it from using these bonds to fund Social Security and Medicare when necessary. This could lead to significant reductions in services.
The AARP, representing Americans aged 50 and older, expressed its apprehension in a 2019 letter, describing the amendment as potentially “devastating for millions.” The letter warns that the amendment could subject Social Security and Medicare to severe cuts, impacting the health and financial stability of beneficiaries.
Furthermore, the Center for American Progress projected in 2018 that such an amendment could lead to a $308 billion reduction in Social Security within five years, with Medicare facing a $239 billion cut and Medicaid a $114 billion decrease.
As Husted campaigns for his first full Senate term, he faces opposition from former Senator Sherrod Brown, a Democrat. Brown had previously sponsored the bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act in 2024, which aimed to boost Social Security benefits for public sector workers, including teachers and police officers.
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